Suicides among active duty military personnel assigned to US Special Operations Command tripled in 2018. SOCOM is not alone in the problem.
A recent Veterans Affairs department report noted that from 2005 to 2016, veteran suicide rates increased by 25.9 percent. Younger veterans continue to be vulnerable, with suicides among those aged 18 to 34 increasing from 40.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2015 to 45 deaths in 2016.

Many suicides appear to be related to substance abuse, personal relationship issues or financial problems, officials said. But the devastating scourge of suicide continues even after troops leave service, hitting the veteran community exceptionally hard.

America’s longest war is not the Government War on Terrorism. It was the Indian Wars. For sixty years the world’s greatest army, which had in infancy defeated the old world’s greatest army, were outfought and outmaneuvered by those they exponentially betrayed, outnumbered and out armed, even though aboriginals were always encumbered by their familial noncombatants. How did they do it? Through thousands of years autochthons developed rites of passage that allowed them to endure the unendurable and achieve the impossible. We can learn from their legacy. And we do.

Before their defeat by American warriors in World War II, Japanese warriors were historically undefeated. Though tragically misplaced, the unwavering resolve and single minded focus of the Japanese warrior class were a result of skills sets derived via mental and emotional disciplines. Afterwards in peace time, we befriended them and then became students of these arts. For thousands of years, Japanese warriors have practiced martial arts not just for warfare but for well-being. We do the same.

Because WarriorSchool instructors are veterans, and the majority of our students are veterans we are able to establish meaningful, long term relationships that translate into better mind, body, spirit and family results. Because even after service, the fight is not over.